Sewing machine



Jam. 20, 1925.

A. R. MORRIL L SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 33, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 20, 1925. 1,523,554

A. R. MORRILL SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan, 31-, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 20, 192 1,523,554

A. R. MORRILL SEWING MACHINE Fi led Jan. 3],,- 9 1 3 Sheets-Shed: -5

Patented Jan. 20, 1925.

UNETEE @FEEQE.

ALFRED R. nonnrim, or swarrrsoorr, a nssnorrnsn'rrs, ASSIG-NOR '10 nrrnn SHOE i/rnonrnnrnr conronarroiv. or Para-neon, new J c onrons'rroivor New JERSEY.

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Application filed January 31, 1921. Serial No. 441,131.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED R. Monnnm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to curved hook needle sewing machines for sewing the inseams of boots and shoes.

During a cycle of operations of an inseam shoe sewing machine of this type, starting with the needle in retracted position with a loop of thread held in its hook, the needle advances through the loop and through the materials, and after it has reached its advanced position the thread is laid in the heck of the needle by the looper. When the needle retracts, the loop of thread is drawn through the materials and through the preceding loop which, when the needle advanced, lay about theshank of the needle. In order that the shoe may be removed when the seam has been completed and another shoe placed in position to be sewed, it is essential that the needle beretracted out of engagement with the work and the loop of thread last formed be freed from the hook of the needle.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a sewing n1 chine having a hook needle, with novel and improved means for freeing the thread from the hook ot' the needle after the completion of the sewing operation.

\Vith this object in view a feature of the present invention contemplates the provision in a sewing machine having stitch forming devices including a hook needle, of power operated means which is thrown into operation after the machine stops. It will be apparent that with the use of such power operated means which is thrown into operation after the machine stops, a simple form of stopping mechanism may be employed on the machine as the power operated means may operate independently of the stopping mechanism.

In the preferred form of the invention hereinafter specifically described the power operated means tor freeing the thread from the hook or the needle after the machine stops is placed under the control of the op-rator so that an additional act of the operator is required toihrow this mechanism into operation. One advantage which is secured by placing this mechanism under the control of the operator is that the machine may be stopped and the thread freed from the heck of the needle to permit the shoe to be removed from. the machine at the end of the sewing or the machine may be stopped without freeing the thread from the hook of the needle and again started at will which it is often desired to do especially in sewing narrow toed shoes. In this connection it may be noted that applicant is the first in the art to provide mechanism by which this result can be accomplished and, accordingly, it is considered that a feature of the present invention consists in the provision of power operated means under the control of the operator by which this result may be secured whether or not such power operated means acts after or during the stopping or the machine. On account of the simplicity and efficiency of such a construction it is preferred that the freeing or the thread from the hook of the needle shall be accomplished by imparting a suitable advancing and retracting movement to the needle, such movement of the ne dle preferably not being sufiic ient to permit it to re-enter the work.

Other features of the invention consist in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

The several features of the invention will be clearly understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of an" inseam shoe sewing machine embodying the features in their preferred form; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation. of a portion of the driving mechanism ot the machine taken on a plane extending axially through the can'i shaft of the machine; Fig. '3 is a detail sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 3+8 of Fig.2; and Figs. 4, 5 and 6v are diagrammat-ical detail views in perspective illustrating the action of the needle in freeing the thread from the needle hook; Fig.4 illustrating the manner in which the needle loop is held in the hook of the needle when the needle is at the limit of its retracting stroke, Fig. 5 illustrating the manner in which the needle loop is freed from the hook of the needle during the advancing movement of the needle, and Fig. 6 illustrat ing'the needle in retracted position free of the loop.

In the drawings the invention is illustrated as embodied in an inseam sewing machine having the same general construction I and mode of operation as the machine illustrated and described in the patent to Topham No. 1,191,747, dated July 18, 1916. This machine is provided with a curved hook needle 2, a looper 4, athread linger '6, a welt guide 8 and a back gage orbunter 10. The needle actuating mechanism coniprises a triangularly shaped lever 12 having its forward end connected with the needlesegment and its rear end pivotally mounted on a shaft 14. The lever 12 is provided with a cam roll 16' that engages a groove in a cam disk carried by the main or cam shaft 18 of the machine. The machine is also provided with a driving and stopping mechanism comprising a high speed driving mechanism for driving the machine during the normal operation thereof, and a low speed driving mechanism which is thrown in when the high speed driving mechanism is thrown out, and acts first to reduce the speed of the machine and then to drive the machine at a low speed. After the low speed driving mechanism has been in operation for a predetermined number of degrees of rotation of the cam shaft of the machine, it is thrown out and stopping devices act to stop the machine with the needle inretracted position. The high speed driving mechanism comprises a belt pulley 20 secured to the cam shaft 18 and driven by a belt from treadle controlled driving mechanism at the base of the machine. The low speed driving mechanism comprises a driving clutch member 22 loosely mounted on the cam shaft and a driven clutch memltcr 24 mounted to rotate with the cam shaft and means is provided comprisin a lever 23 engaging a cam groove 25 in the hub of the clutch member 24 to move the member 24 into and out of engagement with the may behad for a full and complete description of these and other parts of the machine 'not fully described herein.

In said patented machine the looper is rendered inoperative during the final cycle of operations of the machine, so that when the needle is retracted upon stopping the machine it will be free of the thread. In the illustrated machine, however, the, needle is retracted upon stopping the machine with the loop of thread remaining in the hook of the needle, and the freeing of the thread from the hook of the needle is accomplished after the machine isthus brought to rest by power operated meansunder the control of the operator. r

In the construction shown, the needle actuating lever 12 is pivotally mounted on an eccentric portion 28 of the shaft 14 and means is provided for rocking the shaft 14 after the machine is stopped to swing the lever about the axis of its cam roll 16 as a center so as to impart a sufficient advancing and retracting movement to the needle to free the thread from the needle hook. The rock shaft 14 is thus actuated through a manually controlled one revolution roll clutch 30 which, when thrown into operation, operatively connects the shaft 14 with the driving clutch member 22 of the low speed driving mechanism. The clutch 30 is of a common construction comprising a driving clutch member 32 secured to the low speed driving clutchfmember 22 and a driven; clutch member 34 loosely mounted on the hub 36 of the low speed driving clutch member 22. The driven clutch member 34 is provided with a series'of flattened surfaces 38 that are engaged by rolls 40 interposed between the clutch members 82 and 34 and mounted in the usual roll carrier 42. The roll carrier 42 is shifted in a direction to establish driving connection between the clutch members 32 and 34 by means of a coiled spring 44 connected with the roll carrier and the roll carrier is controlled to disconnect the clutch members 32 and 34 at the completion of one revolution of the clutch by an outwardly spring pressed dog 46 pivotally mounted on the roll. carrier which, at the completion'of one revolution of the clutch, engages a shoulder formed on the end of a latch arm 48. The latch arm 48 is secured to a rock shaft 50 and is urged downwardly toward the periphery of the roll carrier 42 by means of a spring 52 connected therewith. With this construction, it will be apparent that upon disengaging the latch arm 48 from the stop dog 46, the roll carrier 42 will be shifted by its spring in a direction to throw the clutch into operation and at the completion of one revolution of the clutch, the stop dog 46 will again engage the shoulder on the end of the latch arm 48 to render the clutch inoperative. The means for disengaging the latch 48 from the stop dog 46 to render the clutch operative comprises a lever 54 which is pivoted at 56 on the machine frame and is provided with a downwardly extending arm or handle 58 adapted to be grasped by the hand of the operator, and with a horizontal arm 60. A laterally extending pin 62 is secured to the inner end of the arm 60 and engages the underside of a tail piece "formed on the inner end of the latch arm a8. lVith this construction it will be apparent that upon the lever 5% being swung in a clockwise direction by the operator, the .pin 62 will act on the tail piece 64 to raise the latch arm 48 out of engagement with the stop dog 46, thereby permitting the spring connected with the roll carrier 42 to throw the clutch into operation.

The connection between the one revolution clutch and the rock shaft 14 comprises an eccentric 65 formed on the driven clutch member 34:. The eccentric 65 is embraced by an eccentric strap 66 provided with an arm 68 which is pivotally connected with the end of an arm 70 formed on one end of a rock shaft 72. A gear segment is is secured to the other end of the rock shaft 72 and operatively engages a gear segn'ient 76 secured to the rock shaft 14:.

In the illustrated machine in order to prevent any danger of the clutch 30 being accidentally thrown into operation during the normal sewing operation of the machine, means is provided for preventing the clutch :30 from being thrown into operation until after the completion of the normal sewing operation. This means comprises the brake applying and thread tension releasing lever L6 which, as previously described, is held stationary during the normal sewing operation of the machine and is swung in a counter clockwise direction near the end the final cycle of operations of the machine. The connection between the lever 26 and the clutch 30 comprises an arm 78 secured to the rock shaft 50, and a rod 80 having its lower end pivotally connected with the lever 26 and its upper end extended through an aperture in the arm 78 and having adjustable stop nuts 82 threaded on the upper end thereof which are arranged to engage the upper side of the arm. With this construction it will be apparent that while the lever 26 is held stationary during the normal sewing operations, the stop nuts 82 will. prevent the latch arm 4-8 from being moved out of engagement with the stop dog i6, and that upon the lever 26 being rocked near the completion of the final cycle of operations, the stop nuts 82 will be raised out of engagement with the arm '78, thereby permitting the latch arm lS'to be moved by the operator out of engagement with the stop dog to throw the clutch 30 into operation.

While it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of parts illustrated and described. it is to be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential except so far as specified in the claims, and may be changed or modified without departing from the broader features 01 the invention.

The nature and scope of the present invention. having been indicated and a machine embodying the several features of the in vention in their pret rred form having been spe ifically described, what is claimed is 2 1. i sew ng machine having, in con'ibination, stitch torn'iing devices including a hook needle. means for stopping the machine and power oaerated means cmitrollable by the operator independently of the stopping means tor freeing the thread tron'i the hook oi the needle after the machine is stopped.

2. A sewingmachine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, a d mechanism for freeing the thread from the hook oi the needle while the other stitch forming devices are at rest.

3. A. sewing machine having, in combination, stitch torn'iing devices including a hook needle, needle actuating mechanism, a driving shat't therefor, and means connected with said needle actuating mechanism for manipulating the needle to tree the thread "from the hook of the he dle while the driving shaft is at rest.

A sewing machine having, in combina tion, stitch forming devices including a hook nee lle, and power operated means under the control of the operator for advanc ing and retracting the needle at'ter the machine is stopped.

A sewing machine having, in coribination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, means for stopping and thereafter starting the machine without freeing the thread from the hook ot the needle, and power operated means tor freeing the thread from the hook of the needle after the machine is stopped at the completion of a sewing operation.

6. A sewing machine having, in combina tion, a cam shaft, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, and power operated means acting independently of the cam shaft tor freeing the thread from the hook of the needle after the completion of the sewing operation.

7. A sewing machine having, in combination. a cam shaft. stitch torming devices including a hook needle, and controllable mechanism for freeing the thread from the hook of the needle while the cam shaft is at rest.

8. A sewing machine having, in combination, a cam shaft, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, and means acting independently of the cam shaft under the control of the operator for freeing the thread from the hook of the needle.

9. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, means for stopping and thereafter starting the machine without freeing the thread from the hook of theneedle, and power operated means for manpulating the needle to free the thread from the hook of the needle after the machine is stopped at the completion of a sewing operation.

10. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, means for stopping the machine and maintaining it stopped with the needle in retracted position and with a loop of thread in the hook of the needle, and power operated means for manipulating the needle to free the thread from the hook of the needle after the machine is thus stopped.

11. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch. forming devices, means for stopping the machine and maintaining it stopped with the needle in retracted position and with the a loop of thread in the hook of theneedle, and power operated means for freeing the thread from the hook of the needle after the machine is thus stopped.

12. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, and means capable of being thrown into operation as the machine is stopped for moving the needle after the machine is stopped toward and from the work a distance less than sufficient to permit the needle to enter the work.

13. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, mechanism for freeing the thread from the hook of the needle, and means for rendering said mechanism controllable by the operator during the final cycle of operations of the machine.

14. A sewing machine having, in combination, a hook needle, needle actuating mechanism comprising a lever, a cam connected with the lever for actuating the needle during the normal operation of the machine, and means connected with the lever to actuate the needle while the came is at rest to free thethread from the hook of the needle. 15. A sewing machine having, in combi-- nation, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, driving mechanism for the machine comprising a driving clutch member,

a driven clutch member, means for rela-* tively shifting the clutch members into and out of engagement, and connections between the driving clutch member and the needle capable of being rendered operative by the operator while the clutch members are out of engagement to manipulate the needle and bring it to rest free of the thread.

16. A sewing machine having, in combination, a driving mechanism for the machine, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, and a one-revolution clutch located between the driving mechanism and the needle capable of being thrown into effective operation after the final cycle of operations of the machine to actuate the needle to, free the thread from the barb of the needle.

17. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle, mechanism capable of being thrown into operation after the completion of the normal sewing operation of the machine, and means for preventing said mecha-' nism from being thrown into operation during the normal sewing operation.

18. A sewing machinehaving, in combination, stitch forming'devices including ahook needle, means for starting and stopping the machine at will without freeing the thread from the hook of the needle, and

power operated means under the control of the operator for freeing the thread from the hook of the needle.

19. A sewing machine having, in combination, a hook needle, mechanism acting automatically when thrown into operation to produce a condition in which .the stitch forming devices are at rest with the needle out of, the work and free of the thread, and

means for stopping the machine with the needle out of the work and for starting the machine without throwing said mechanism into operation. r

ALFRED R. MORRILL. 

